Pictures John Hopkins
THE Battle of Winwick Society revived the history of the major English Civil War fight in 1648, as part of a special Heritage Weekend event.
Earlier this week the group walked the same route taken by a defeated Scottish army as its soldiers marched south to Winwick from a battleground at Preston. Two days later the weary troops had to fight another major conflict on land close to St Oswald’s Church.
The walk took place along the A49 from Preston to Winwick earier this week and preceded the society’s re-enactment event of the Battle of Winwick at St. Oswald’s Church Heritage Weekend.
The Winwick battle contributed to the end of the Civil War and the parish church became a prison.
On 17 August 1648 the Scottish Engager army, supporters of Kings Charles 1st, were defeated at the Battle of Preston. With Cromwell’s army positioned to the north they had no option but to fall back southwards. They followed the A49 route as it was then and after two days with fighting continuing for much of the time, they finally arrived at Winwick. That afternoon on the 19th they were met and defeated in the fields close to St. Oswald’s church by more Cromwell troops.
The Battle of Winwick Society was formed in 2023 to make the battlefield better known, to protect it from development and to erect a monument and information boards.
